Container labeling mechanism



June 7, 1938.

c. SQHMUTZER CONTAINER LABELING MECHANISM i-iled Dec. :51, 1936 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR June 7 1938.

c. SCHMUTZER CONTAINER LABELING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 31, 1936 w INVENTOR i AT RNEY Patented June 7, 1938 tartar otrlcr.

, CONTAINER LABELING MECHANISP/E @harlcs Schmutzer, Irvingt-on, N. 3., assignorto Hofiman Beverage Company, Newark, N. 3., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 31, 1936, Serial No. 118,446

17 Claims.

This invention relates to container labeling machines, and has particular reference to means for stabilizing the movement of the label picker in transferring a label from the label magazine to the container to be labeled In a conventional form of labeling machine, upon whichfthe present invention is an improvement, the'picker is splined on a shaft which is oscillated about its longitudinal axis by acam to advance'and retract the picker to and'from the label magazine and to and from the container, the picker being alternately reciprocated between the label magazine and the path of movement of the container by means of a second cam so that the picker describes a generally U-shaped course, viz: backwardly from the label magazine, from which its gummed surface abstracts a label, across to the container-carrying table and forwardly to lay the label on, the container where it is held by afinger .until applied. The picker is suspended from the oscillatingshaft and the spline thereof is relied .on to impart the oscillating movement to the picker. Because the spline must afford free movement of the picker. along the, oscillating shaft, there is a certain degree of looseness in the spline which increases as the spline wears, and-so, though the picker is light in Weight, it vibrates as its direction of motion changes during its U-shaped course of travel to a degree that frequently results in a continuous and sustained chattering causing disarrangement of the label thereon, both because of the jar of the vibration and because of the air currents 7 induced by the vibration, resulting in misalignment of the label on the'container.

Also, excessive chattering of the picker because of the aforementioned reasons, not infrequently results in fouling-between the picker and the label grip finger, which moves into engagement with the label in the container as the picker retracts after having laid the label.- These conditions become aggravated as the speed of the labeling operation is increased, so that the machine frequently cannot operate at a rate con-' forming to other concomitant operations, such as filling, sealing and the like, resulting in a slowing down of an entire manufacturing process.

In accordance with the present invention, means are provided'for stabilizing the movements of. the pick-er of a container labeling machine of the form described, whereby vibration of the picker due to the aforementioned causes is minimized, permitting operation of the labeling machine at high speed without liability of misalignment of the labels on the containers because of vibration. H a

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, which maybe readily applied to existing labeling machines without material change thereof, the splined connection between the picker and the oscillating shaft is eliminated, so that the latter acts merely as a guide along which the picker reciprocates, and a brace bar is positioned parallel to the shaft as a second guide for the picker, 1 this brace bar being rigidly connected to the shaft by end clamps operatively connected to the cam so that the shaft and brace bar are oscillated as a unit by the c'am abou't the axis of the shaft. With this arrangement the leverage of -1 5 theangular connection between' the shaft and the picker is greatly increased by the difference between the relatively short radial length of the former spline and the spacing between the axis of the shaft and the brace bar. 7 20 It will 'be seen that with the arrangement of the pre'sent invention, a firm, positive connection between the picker and its actuating support is provided 'which is :devoid of loosenes's, such as that required in the spline between picker and 25 the shaft in the former arrangement to permit free movement of the picker, whereby a firm, positive movement is imparted to the picker throughout its U-shaped course oftravel, regardlessof the speed at which it is moved Within 3 the speed capacity of the labeling machine. In a more complete understanding of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a label picker 3 mechanism embodying the stabilizing means of this invention;

Figure 2 is .a rear elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a frontelevation thereof;

Figure 4 is an enlarged section through the oscillating shaft and guide bar, as seen along the line l'- -4 of. Fig. 3; a

Figure 51s a similar section as seen along the line 55 of Figure 3; and V Figure .6 is a fragmentary plan view of the '45 labeling machine equipped with the stabilized picker of this invention.

Referring to Fig. 6 of the drawings, numeral I 8 designates the rotating table of a conventional form of a container labeling machine particularly' arranged to label bottles such as beverage bottles. By. mechanism which is well understood and therefore not described herein, the bottles B are placed on the table H1 and held in posi- 7 tion by a cam-operated clamp H which descends '55 and engages the cap of the bottle to hold it firmly on the table II]. Positioned adjacent the rotating table I Oils a body lab'el magazine I2 with which a picker, generally designated I3, cooperates to transfer gummed body labels, one by one, into the path of the movement of. the

bottles B. The picker is bifurcated and the bottle passes through the space between the arms of the picker to abstract the label spanning this space. A cam-actuated label-holding ifinger I4 moves into engagement with the label as the picker moves away after. having laid the label on the surface of the bottle.

The labels are then adhered to the surface of the bottle by suitable label-wipingmeananot shown. Also positioned adjacent the table II] may be a neck label magazine I 2 with which cooperates a similar picker I3 in the manner described;

The pickers I3 and I3 are suitably supported on a frame I5 extending over the rotating table I!) as indicated particularly'in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Journalled in the frame I5 is a horizontal shaft I6, which, according to'the present invention has secured to its opposite ends, by means of keys I1 a is provided with a lateral extension 2I to which. 135

i lightening groove 2 I;

and clamping bolts I8, a pair of end clamps I9.

Rigidly secured between the free ends of end 'clamps I9 is a bar 20 preferably rectangular in cross-section and provided with a longitudinal The shaft I6 and bar 20 are accordingly secured together in fixed spaced relation and may move as a unit about the axis of the shaft I6-as the latter oscillates. V

' The left hand end clamp I9 as seen-in Fig. 3

is pivoted'the link 22 adjustable as to length by the turn buckle 23 and pivoted at its lower end to the free endof the bell crank 24suitably journalled on the frame of the machine at 25. The

opposite end of the bell crank 24 is fitted with a roller 26 running in the groove 2Iof the cam 28 mounted on shaft 29 and'rotated'by the same ,means which drivesthe machine so that it rotates in synchronism with the remaining parts of the labeling machine. By means of this cam'21 the shaft I6 and'bar 26 are oscillated about the axis 7 of shaft I6. 7

Slidably mounted jointly on the shaft I6 and A the bar 20 is the picker slide 30. As shown particularly in Fig. 5, bushings 3| areinterposed between the slide 30 and the bar 20 andare adjustable by means of set screws 32 to secure a free running fit between the picker slide 30 and the bar 20 without looseness. Formed on the picker slide 30 is a downwardly-extending double arm bracket 33, to' thetwo arms of which are secured by means of bolts 34 and keys 35 the two arms 36 of the picker I3, which arejspaced apart and shaped to accommodate the bottle B between them. The picker arms 36 are fitted with picker plates 31 and/or 38, the former'being for the body label B1. and the latter for the neck label NL, both indicated in Fig. 3. The picker arms 36 are preferably provided with both body label and neck label plates 3I'and 38 so as to be interchangeable for body label and neck label service. The picker slide 30 is provided with a lateral extension 39 having a socket in its rear surface into which is loosely fitted'a pin 40 mounted on the free end of the reciprocating cam arm 4|,

which is pivoted at its lower'end at 42 on the framer'of the machine and is provided intermediate its ends with 'a 'roller 43 moving in the groove 44of cam 45 secured to shaft 29, as shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 2. Buffer springs 46 'aremounted on the opposite ends of the circular portion of bar 26 between a fixed collar 41 and an inside sliding collar 48 for bufiing the movement of the picker slide 36 on the bar 2|] at its opposite ends of travel as it is oscillated along the shaft I6 and bar 26 by means of lever,4I as the latter is moved by cam 45. v

In operation, the movements imparted to the picker slide 3|) in oscillation about the axis of shaft I6 and in reciprocation along shaft I6 and bar 20 are synchronized by cams 28 and 45 in such a way that the picker I3, including the two arms 36, is moved against the outermost label in the body label magazine, after the plates 31 have been gummed in the usual way by the gum roller, not shown. The label adheres to the picker plates 3'! and is extracted from the magazine I2.

The rearward movement of the, picker I3, caused V by the tilting of the shaft I6 and bar 20 by cam 28, is followed by the longitudinal movement of the picker slide 30 along the shaft I6 and bar 26 by the action of cam 45.

The label is thus placed over the table II] in the path of the advancing bottle B, so that as the picker I3 advances with the bottle due to the action of the cam 28 to complete the U-shaped course of the picker, the label is laid on the bottle 13 and'at once the label holding finger I4- moves into engagement with the label to hold it in place on the bottle in accordance with the usual operation of the machine; Cam 28 then reverses the movement of the picker I3,and cam 45 returns thelatter along the bar 20 and-shaft I6 to its position opposite the label magazine I2, where- 7 20, a considerable distance as is shown in Fig. 5. Because of this considerable leverage the move mer t of the picker I3 is firm and positive.

Also, the adjustment of the bushings 3| on the bar 20 free running fit,.so that there is no looseness to cause vibration of the picker I3.

Thus, even at high operating speeds, the movement of the picker is smooth, firm, and positive, and the chattering of the picker that takes place in the former machines is entirely eliminated. Accordingly there is nordisarrangement of the label on the picker and consequently no mis alignment of the label on the bottle due to vibration or to air drafts induced by vibration or chattering. Because there is no chattering of the picker, it cannot furl the label holding finger I4 which moves up within the range of any large vibration of the picker as the latter lays the label on thebottle.

The neck label picker I3 cooperating with the neck label magazine I2 is also provided with the brace bar arrangement and its operation is pre:

cisely the same save only that the neck labels N1.

affords a minimum clearance consistent with a P45 are positioned on the neck label plates 38 of the picker for application to'the neck of the bottles as the bottle moves relatively between the two arms 36 of the neck label picker I3.

Although the picker stabilizing mechanism of this invention has been illustrated and described I claim:

1. In a label picker mechanism having a picker reciprocating laterally along an oscillating shaft, the Combination of means for stabilizing the movement of the picker including a guide substantially parallel to said shaft and oscillating therewith, and a connection between said picker and said guide, whereby the picker reciprocates jointly along said shaft and guide.

2. In a label picker mechanism having a picker reciprocating laterally along an oscillating shaft, the combination of means for stabilizing the movement of the picker including a guide rigidly secured in parallel spaced relation to said shaft and oscillating therewith, and a slide on the shaft rigidly connected to said picker whereby the picker reciprocates jointly along said shaft and guide.

3.' In a label picker mechanism having a picker reciprocating laterally along an oscillating shaft, the combination of means for stabilizing the movement of the picker including a guide rigidly secured in substantially parallel spaced relation to said shaft and oscillating therewith, a member movable along said guide, and rigid connections between said picker and said member, whereby the picker reciprocates jointly along said shaft and guide.

4. In a label picker mechanism having a picker reciprocating laterally along an oscillating shaft, the combination of means for stabilizing the movement of the picker including members spaced longitudinally of the shaft and oscillating therewith, a guide carried by said members in substantially parallel spaced relation to said shaft, and an extension on the picker engaging said guide for movement therealong as the picker reciprocates.

5. In a label picker mechanism having a picker reciprocating laterally along an oscillating shaft, the combination of means for stabilizing the movement of the picker including members rigidly secured to the shaft adjacent its ends for oscillatio-n therewith, a guide rigidly secured to said members in substantially parallel spaced relation to said shaft and oscillating therewith, and a rigid extension on said picker engaging said guide for movement therealong as the picker reciprocates.

6. In a label picker mechanism having a picker reciprocating laterally along an oscillating shaft, the combination of means for stabilizing the movement of the picker including members rigid ly secured in spaced relation longitudinally of said shaft, a guide carried thereby and extending in substantially parallel spaced relation to said shaft, a slide thereon, and a rigid connection between said picker and said slide.

7. In a labeling machine having a label picker, 7

the combination of a support, a pair of substantially parallel spaced guides thereon, means for jointly oscillating said guides about an axis substantially parallel thereto, a slide on said guides fixedly carrying said picker for oscillation with said guides, and means for reciprocating said slide along said guides during said oscillation of said guides, slide, and picker.

8. In a labeling machine having a label picker, the combination of a support,.a pair of substantially parallel spaced guides thereon, means for jointly oscillating one of said guides about the longitudinal axis of the other guide, a slide on said guides fixedly carrying said picker for oscillation with said guides, and means for reciprocating said slide along said guides during "said oscillation of said guides, slide, and picker.

9. In a labeling machine having a label picker,

the combination of a support, a pair of substantially parallel spaced guides thereon, means for jointly oscillating said" guides about the longitudinal axis of one of them, a slide on said guides fixedly carrying said picker for oscillation with said guides, and means for reciprocating said slide along said guides during said oscillation of the combination of a support, an elongated guide thereon, a second elongated guide supported for parallel movement about the longitudinal axis of said first guide, a slide on said first guide having a lateral extension embracing said second guide, means for oscillating said second guide about said axis, means for reciprocating said slide along said guides, and means for adjusting the degree of contact between said slide and said second guide.

12. In a labeling machine having a label picker, the combination of a support, an elongated guide thereon, a second elongated guide supported for parallel movement about the longitudinal axis of said first guide, a slide on said first guide having a lateral extension embracing said second guide, means for oscillating said second guide about said axis, means for reciprocating said slide along said guides, and an adjustable bushing between said extension and said second guide.

13. In a labeling machine having a label picker, the combination of a support, an elongated guide thereon, spaced members pivoted about the longitudinal axis of said guide, a second elongated guide carried by said members in substantially parallel spaced relation to said first guide, means for oscillating said members and second guide about said axis, a slide on said guides carrying said picker, and means for reciprocating said slide along said guides as the picker oscillates about said axis.

14. In a labeling machine having a label picker, the combination of a support, an'elongated guide thereon, spaced members secured to said guide, said guide and members being pivoted on the support, a second guide secured to said members in rigid spaced, substantially parallel relation with respect to said first guide, means for oscillating said members and guides about said pivot,

a slide. on said guides carrying the picker, and

16. ln'alabeling machine'ha'ving alabelpicker,

the combination of a' support, a shaft jourrialled.

thereon, a slide carrying the picker movable along said shaft, means for reciprocating said slide along said shaft, end'clamps secured to said shaft,

a: guide bar rigidly secured to said end clamps in :spaced substantially parallel relation to said shaft,-an extension on' said slide embracing said guide bar, means for oscillating 'said shaft, end 7 clamps, guide bar, slide and picker about the axis of said shaft, .an elongated bushing, interposed between said slide extension and said guide bar, and means for adjusting the bushing to vary the degree of tightness between the slide and said a guide bar.

thecombination of a support, a shaft journalled the'reon,'a slide carrying the picker movable along said shaft, means for reciprocating said slide along'said shaft, end clamps secured to said shaft, {5

a guide bar rigidly secured to said end clamps in spaced substantially parallel relation to said shaft, an extension on said slide embracing said guide bar, means for oscillating said shaft, end clamps, guide bar, slide and picker about the axis {:10

of said shaft,and buffer'means at the ends of said 1 guide bar for engagement by said slide at the extremities of its reciprocating movement.

CHARLES SCHMUTZER.

1'7. In a labeling machine having a label picker, Y 

